Practical framework on return to work for Law Firms and others
Overview
- Office workers should continue to work from home where they can
- Offices, law firms and organisations can remain open (or re-open if they have been closed) provided they follow the government’s COVID-secure guidelines (as set out below)
- Calls or video conferences should be encouraged to avoid in-person meetings with external contacts or colleagues outside someone’s immediate team wherever possible
- Staff who have to go to the office should do so. If they need to use public transport, they should consult the government guidance on how to travel safely
- Staff who need to travel internationally for work are able to do so (quarantine restrictions may apply)
- Staff who need to stay in overnight accommodation for work purposes are allowed to do so
- If face-to-face business meetings are required, these can take place not limited to the rule of six, and indoors. This does not include social gatherings with work colleagues
- The government has committed to publishing new social distancing, face mask and other long-term measures ahead of step four (pencilled in for 21 June)
The government’s COVID-secure office guidance has not changed in a significant way from autumn 2020. It includes new provisions on ventilation of spaces and non-mandatory lateral flow tests.
If your organisation carried out a COVID risk assessment in 2020, we encourage you to review it and cross-reference it against this framework. This will enable you to check that the measures you have put in place are working and identify any further improvements.
The FULL from the Law Society site is here.